Scouting report: Patriots

Feel the heat. That's not a reference to the pressure the Chargers now are under at 2-3, but a statement on the approach of the Patriots for a matchup of two AFC powers that simply do not like each other – and aren't afraid to show it.

The Patriots have the benefit of the high ground, having spoiled the Chargers' very-real chances at the Super Bowl in each of the past two years, and they're coming into San Diego with a 3-1 record that belies their first month of life without Tom Brady. New England won't play a team that's currently over .500, though, until next week.

For all their vast differences, the Pats and Chargers do have something in common. They're the two victims of the Miami Dolphins and their “Wildcat” offense, which debuted against the Pats and humiliated New England in the process.

In view of what happened to San Diego at Miami, however, much about the Pats' victory at San Francisco last Sunday portends more trouble for the Chargers. New England's defense rebounded nicely against a 49ers offense that also can be tricky, especially when it came to walling off the 49ers running game, and New England's offense controlled the ball and the clock in similar fashion to Miami's handling of the Chargers.

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Matt Cassel, QB: Family, friends and teammates were about the only ones terribly interested in his NFL debut in 2005, which happened to be against the Chargers, who happened to be on their way to a 41-17 blowout victory at New England at the time. (His first completed pass was to a receiver named Pass, Patrick.) A confirmed backup at both USC and New England, Cassell was thrust into duty with the season-ending injury to Tom Brady, and he's completed 70 of 104 passes for 707 yards. His three TD passes are matched by three interceptions.

Rodney Harrison, SS: Hard to believe there's still anybody active in the NFL who actually played for the Chargers in their one and only Super Bowl – it's been a decade since then, five years since San Diego released him – but Harrison's as dangerous and indelicate as ever in quest of his third NFL Championship ring. Coverage isn't his strong suit, but he did have one of New England's three picks last Sunday. His forte is hitting, and as much as he enjoys haunting his former team, expect to see something suspension-worthy or fine-able.

Randy Moss, WR: Normally, you'd think the Pats would want to play it really safe with a quarterback of Cassel's inexperience, but there's something about having Randy Moss running downfield that's great for a passer's confidence in heaving the longball. Moss – who caught eight passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the Pats' regular-season win at Qualcomm last year, but only one pass in the AFC title game – was open behind the defense for a 66-yard TD connection with Cassel in San Francisco.